Second Nigerian Classical Guitar Workshop in Lagos

WE ARE GOING BACK TO NIGERIA!

Following the success of last year's first-ever Nigerian Classical Guitar Workshop, hosted by the Goethe Institute in Lagos, we have been invited to hold its next edition between November 27th - December 1st, 2019.

This time, through the generous support of the Goethe Institute coupled with our previous fundraising efforts, we have been able to invite TWO MORE GUEST ARTISTS from Europe, who will be joining us as masterclass teachers, lecturers, workshop supervisors and performers. More info below.

HELP US fund this project AND BRING MORE GUITAR GOODS TO NIGERIA by donating to this year's edition.

Last year, our fundraiser tour consisted of an epic adventure through 6 cities of India, performing 7 concerts followed by our final fundraiser in Germany. The entire adventure has been turned into a documentary. Here is where we have invested last year's donations:

This year, we will be bringing back more workshops, masterclasses, lectures, concerts and performance opportunities for all workshop participants. All events will, as always, be open to the public and free of charge for all listeners.

Our program will consist of the following activities:

- masterclasses, lectures (Nov 27th, 28th, 29th)
- workshops (Nov 27th, 28th, 29th)
- all-guest round table (Nov 29th)
- student performances (Nov 27th, 29th)
- final concert, giveaway and closing ceremony (Nov 30th, 7 pm)
- educational outreach (December 1st)

All events except for the final concert will take place at the Goethe Institute Lagos, in the Lagos City Hall (Catholic Mission Street, opposite Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos Island). The final concert will take place at the Jazzhole Lagos (168 Awolowo Rd, Ikoyi).

Once again, we will be bringing professional classical guitars donated by the amazing Ramirez guitar maker family from Madrid, Spain.

These will go to workshop participants that have undergone careful selection by their teachers, as well as the workshop organizers and guest artists.

Together with the guitars, some more guitar goods will also be donated to all workshop participants, their number and amount depending on how many donations this crowdfunding project will bring in.

This year's instruments:

Last year, we used part of our crowdfunding donations to bring strings, nail care kits, tuners, metronomes, footstools, music stands, sheet music and other guitar goods - essential tools for successful guitar playing that are currently difficult to find in Nigeria. Enable us to do the same once again by donating to this year's campaign!

All donations from this campaign will go towards financing the project and providing more guitar goods for all workshop participants. None of the guest artists, organizers or other helpers involved are accepting any payment for their work and involvement in the project. A more detailed breakdown of this year's budget can be found further down in the campaign description.

Joining Romanian-German classical guitarist Mircea Gogoncea,  project organizer, professional musician, doctoral student and assistant at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music in Los Angeles, will be Prof. Eduardo Inestal from Spain / Germany and Arturo Castro Nogueras from Puerto Rico / Mexico / Germany.

Prof. Eduardo Inestal is an internationally-acclaimed classical guitarist, newest appointed member of staff in the guitar department of the Robert Schumann Music University in Düsseldorf, Germany, as well as regularly-featured guest artist of some of the most prestigious festivals, competitions, and concert halls in Europe and the Americas.

Puerto Rican, Cuban and Mexican professional classical guitarist Arturo Castro Nogueras draws on a rich cultural background that spans his diverse heritage. Born into a family of musicians, he has performed extensively across Europe and the Americas, including sold – out performances in 2018 in Germany, the UK, Mexico and around the world, featuring both Caribbean contemporary and classical music.

The three guest artists will not only impart their knowledge in the form of public masterclasses, but also hold lectures on various topics including musicianship, guitar technique, composition, arranging traditional music, ensemble performance, marketing and aspects of the professional musician life.

They will also supervise workshops and perform in the final concert on the evening of Saturday Nov 30th, sharing the stage with each other as well as select students from this year's workshop.

Following the final event, the giveaway of this year's donated guitars and other guitar goods will take place. Scene from last year's giveaway following the final concert:

Join us in supporting this project and allowing us to help the nascent Nigerian guitar scene! The more you support us, the more we can help and pass on to our workshop participants, encouraging them to practice, develop themselves, follow their dreams, and impart their knowledge onto others in their country.

The original recipient of our support, 27-year old Taiwo Adegoke from Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria, is a self-taught classical guitarist and teacher who, prior to our workshop last year, had never received a single guitar lesson in his life, yet taught himself how to read music and play the instrument using only his resourcefulness - and now has 7 students of his own!

His determination towards developing himself artistically, musically and technically on the classical guitar, coupled with his infectious enthusiasm and passion for sharing his knowledge with those around him, is what kicked off our initially collaboration and continues to fuel this project. Here he is, pictured surrounded by some of his students.

For more information on him and his story, watch the documentary linked above.

We consider last year's project to have been a resounding success, and believe it can be seen as proof of our commitment to helping this inspiring group of young musicians, as well as putting our funds to good use.

If you would like to help in other ways, such as by helping us put the word out, advertising for our project in the media, or by collaborating with us in any way, please get in touch with us on any platform.

Additionally, if you are an aspiring classical guitarist based in Nigeria and would like to be considered as a workshop participant, please also get in touch with us. This workshop is free for everyone to listen to, we but are also always excited to welcome other young aspiring musicians into our midst as active participants!

Since this project is run entirely by volunteers and nobody involved with it is accepting any payment for their services, including all teachers, guest artists, organizers and helpers, all of our costs and grants are transparent and visible by anyone.

To access our most up-to-date funding documents, follow this link.

Let's work together to get that shortfall down to 0 and beyond, enabling us to buy more goods for the workshop and make a larger impact on our participants' lives with our project!

Donate, tell your friends and let's make this happen!!

Are you as excited as we are?

Thank you so much from our wonderful team of volunteers, in the name of everyone who has benefited from our projects and everyone who has contributed to our previous funding runs!

Many thanks from our three guest artists, who are giving up their time, energy, taking time off work, and bearing the burden of some of our costs in order to teach, inspire, and perform for these wonderful young musicians in Nigeria.

Many thanks to (from left to right) Arturo Castro Nogueras, Prof. Eduardo Inestal and Mircea Gogoncea.

Can't wait to see you all in Lagos!